Voices corrupted my dreams, bed sheets crumpled
Crept to the landing to see what was happening
Daddy had his hand round mummy’s throat again
She was choking, cheeks wet with tears, neck bruised
Grasping for a way out, some relief
I wanted to run down or scream at him to stop
But no sound came
I was rooted behind the banisters
Watching from the shadows
Daddy looked different
Not the face that used to smile at me, arms that hugged me
I never wanted him to touch me again
Eventually he let her go, banged the wall with his fists
Fled from her, yelling his goodbyes
Never saw him again
But the lessons he taught me remain
That men are supposed to hurt you, not love you
That when they strike, it’s our fault
Their rage is our problem, not theirs
Every man that walked into her life did the same
The man I married, seemed placid
Then he turned into something more savage
I could take the beatings, I knew what to do
But when he turned on my daughter, we ran
I couldn’t let her suffer as I was forced to
Couldn’t let the cycle repeat for another turn
Stopped the lessons before they were taught
She’s now saved from having to live that life
